Mapping global cancer risk hotspots from environmental pesticides

Abstract

Summary Pesticides remain widely detected in the environment and continue to pose long-term cancer risks to human populations. Here, we developed a global framework to quantify population-level cancer risk (CR) from 22 carcinogenic pesticides by integrating contamination in air, soil, surface water, and groundwater with oral, inhalation, and dermal exposure pathways. Using global monitoring data from 2010 to 2020, we mapped CR values across 205 countries and regions under basic and advanced exposure scenarios. Risks show marked spatial heterogeneity, with hotspots in parts of Asia, Africa, and the Americas exceeding (CR > 10−4). Historical use, delayed bans, and ongoing releases explain these patterns. Lifetime average daily doses (LADDs) analysis indicates that water-related pathways contributed substantially under the advanced scenario, highlighting water pathways in cumulative cancer risk. Our results demonstrate that legacy pesticides still pose measurable cancer risks after being banned, underscoring the need for integrated, multi-pathway risk management strategies.